About

DEREK LUSCUTOFF (he/him) is a dancer/singer/actor based in New York City. Originally from Northern California, Derek grew up playing the piano, performing in musical theatre, and creating his own musical revues for local retirement homes! He is of mixed ethnicity, born to a Latina mother (Mexican & Spanish) and a Russian/Italian father.

Derek began his professional career traveling the world as a performer with Norwegian Cruise Line and their affiliates Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. On the Norwegian Gem, he danced in Swing! (a cruise ship adaptation of the Broadway musical, with original Broadway direction and choreography by Lynne Taylor-Corbett). On the Oceania Marina, in addition to performing in several production shows, he created his own cabaret entitled Swing, Standards, and Sinatra: A Big Band Tribute. On the Regent Navigator, he collaborated with another singer/dancer onboard to create a Fred Astaire & Ginger Rodgers-style show—The Golden Age of Broadway and Hollywood, featuring hits from Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, and more. Over the course of three years, Derek traveled to six continents and over forty countries!

Derek has also performed in musical theatre across the U.S.! His credits include Carnegie Hall (Strike Up the Band, directed by Ted Sterling), the national tour of Lincoln Center’s My Fair Lady (directed by Bartlett Sher), Goodspeed Musicals (the pre-Broadway tryout of 42nd Street, directed & choreographed by Randy Skinner), Paper Mill Playhouse (Cinderella), North Shore Music Theatre (The Sound of Music, Young Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, & Father Alexandrios in Mamma Mia!), The Phoenix Theatre Company (Singin’ in the Rain, Something Rotten!, An American in Paris), and more. He recently played his dream role of Don Lockwood in Singin’ in the Rain in New Orleans!

Derek earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with minors in Music and Dance/Performance Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. He is also a graduate of the Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance Program at The School at Jacob’s Pillow in Massachusetts.

Derek is a proud Hispanic/Latino & queer artist! A Renaissance man, he enjoys performing, teaching, creating, and collaborating with other artists. After his dance/performance career ends someday, he is excited to focus more on teaching and writing/directing/choreographing musical theatre. Derek is passionate about making a positive impact in the world through the performing arts, whether by bringing an audience joy or asking them to walk in someone else’s shoes and contemplate the important issues of our time.

Follow him on social media: @derekluscutoff